Electronic plug-in unit handle



July 7,195 R. J. O'NEILL ,ET AL ELECTRONIC PLUG-IN UNIT HANDLE Filed Jan; 15, 1957 ]NVENTOR.- I DONALD MAC INTYRE RICHARD J. O'NEILL United States Patent 2,893,777 ELECTRONIC PLUG IN UNIT HANDLE Richard J. ONeill, Fullerton, and Donald L. MacIutyre, El Monte, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 15, 1957, Serial No. 634,186

4 Claims. (Cl. 294-1) The present invention relates to a detachable handle for forcibly manipulating an electronic plug-in unit, and

more particularly, to a handle which may be attached to attached.

In the packaging of modern'electronic equipment a conventional type of construction which is widely used 'is a tier, or box, having aplurality of pairs of grooves on the inner surfaces of its two. sides so that a correspondin plurality of wiring panels may be inserted therein. The wiring panels themselves are frequently of the printed circuit type consisting of an insulating material having some electrical circuit components printed or painted thereon, and frequently having provision for the mounting of other components of conventional types. In order to make the most efiicient use of space, it is desirable to mount the panels very closely together within the tier. I

A necessary feature of this type of packaging, however, is a provision for removing the various individual panels from the tier from time to time for purposes of inspection or maintenance. It is therefore desirable to provide a device for inserting and removing the panels from the tier. The principal advantage of such a device is that its use permits spacing the panels much more closely together than if it were necessary to provide working space to insert them or remove them by hand;

In the conventional tier described above, each panel must not only be inserted into its proper position, but

must also be provided with necessary electrical connections. For this purpose, a bank of connector terminals is mounted on the bottom of the tier running transversely from a groove on the inner surface of one wall to'the associated groove on the'inner s'urface of the opposlte wall, anda corresponding bank of connectors is mounted on that edge ofthe panel whichis' inserted first into the tier} When 'the panel is inserted into its final position, therefore, the bank'of connectors on the leading edge of the panel and the corresponding bank of connectors 'on'the' bottom of the tier mesh together, usually by some type of sprin contact. A considerable amount of force i must be exerted in order to mesh the banks of connectors together when the panel is inserted, or to pull them apart when the panel is removed. In addition, when the panel is bein inserted its direction of movement must be carefully controlled. The requirements placed upon the device noted above, therefore, are that it must operate within a very confined. space, must exert a precise control over the direction of motion of the panel, and must be, able to exert considerable force in controlling the A 2,893,777 wave "detachable handle for-an electronic plug-in unit, including a body portion 'adapted'to' be gripped by hand, a locking member movably: mounted on the body portion and adapted to occupyeither---a locked position 'or an unlocked position, andspring'm'eans normally retaining the locking member initslocked'position. The-body portion has at one end thereof a substantially U-shaped groove for engaging the plug-innnit." Each of the opposing walls of the groove has a pluralityof holes respectively aligned with the corresponding holes in the opposite wall. The locking member has mounted upon it, opposite the holes in the groove,-'a plurality ofmetal locking pins arranged in a configuration identical to the configuration 0f the holes in thc groove. In the locked position of the locking member the metal locking pins extend through the holes. in one wall of the groove, across the groove, and into the holes in thei other vwall of the groove; whereas in the unlocked position the metal locking pins are fully withdrawn from the-groove.

The features of this invention Which are believed to be novel and patentable are pointed out in the-claims which form a part of. this specification. Fora better understanding of-theinvention, reference isnow made to the accompanying drawing, in which: 1

Figure 1 isa partiallycutaway; view of an electronic tier assembly illustrating four-wiring panels mounted in position within the tier and. showing a'detachable handle in accordance with.the present invention engaging one ofthepanels;

Figure 2 is,anielevation viewbfthe detachable handle .ofFigure 1.showing the normal locked position of the lockingmember; .1.

.Figure 3- .is. a view similar to :Figure;2,' but sh'owingthe unlocked position of the locking member;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the handle of Figure. 2 looking toward the Ueshaped groove as indicated by Figure 5 is .a side viewofa portion of .the tier of Figure 1 illustrating the working spacebetweenadjacent panelsv for attaching'and detaching the handle, and the meshing of mated, banks} OfflOnnectOrsat the bottom of thetier; and T 1 Figure 6, illustrates the insertion or removal of one of the panels by means of thedetachableihandle.

Referringnow to-Figure-l of- .the drawing, there is illustrated therein an, electronic assembly tier 10 in which wiring panels 21, 22, 23 and 24.are-mounted. A detachable handle 30 in accordance with the present invention is attached to panel 23.

- The tier is in, the form ,of a box or trough including alefthand wall 11 having grooves, such, as 11a, 11b on the inner surface thereof, and a right-hand wall 12, having grooves such as 12a on its inner ,surface. Eachof the panels is positioned in a corresponding pair of the grooves, for example panel, 21 is positioned in grooves 11 and 12a. fThepanelsar e indicated as having printed circuit wiring mounted thereon in the conventionalmanner. A bank 13 of female electrical connectors; mounted .on the bottom of the Iti erf meshes with a corresponding bank of maleconnectors (shown only in dotted lines in Figure 5) mountedon the bottom edge of panel 23.

- 3 locked into position on the upper edge of panel 23. Dotted lines to the right of handle 30 illustrate an alternative position in which it may be placed and then slid to the left in order to be centered and locked into position on the panel in a manner which will be subsequently described.

Various details of the detachable handle are illustrated in various figures of the drawing with the same reference numerals being used throughout for the same parts. Therefore, the detachable handle will be described with reference to all of the figures.

In Figure 1 each of the wiring panels is illustrated as having an upper portion in the storm of a thin plate suitable for attaching the handle thereto. On the upper portion of each panel there is located a row of four holes having predetermined relative spacings, and a centering slot. For example, panel 21 has holes 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d located near its upper edge. A centering slot 212 is located in the -upper .portioniof the panel at approximately the center.

The body portion of detachable handle 30 includes on its bottom end surface along U-sha'ped groove 31 having pairs of holes 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d passing through the walls of the groove. A predetermined spacing is provided between adjacent pairs of holes to match the spac- :ings between corresponding holes on panel 23.

A center pin 31 is permanently mounted in the center of the U-shaped groove of handle 30 in snch a position as to engage the centering slot on one of the panels when the handle is in the proper position. Although it is not necessary that the spacings between adjacent holes in the edge of each panel be equidistant, it is nevertheless preferred so that the detachable handleis reversible. Thus, it is. preferred that both the panels and the handle be so arranged that either endof the Ushaped groove may be positioned at either end of the gripping edge of the panel. This preferred form is illustrated in the drawing. The rows of holes in the gripping portion of each panel and in the U-shaped groove of the handle are therefore not only spaced at equal intervals, but are arranged in a balanced or symmetrical configuration with respect to the center of the panel and of the handle.

The detachable handle-further includes a hand-grip 32 which is provided on the body portion of the handle. In the preferred form of the handle illustrated in the drawing, the body portion of the handle is a hollow rectangle, the exterior surface of one side of the hollow rectangle providing the U-shaped groove 31, and the opposite side of the rectangle providing the hand-grip. A locking member 33 having a row of metal locking pins 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d provides the means for locking the detachable handle 'to one of the panels when the corresponding rows of holes have been appropriately aligned. Locking member 33 is p'ivotally mounted on a pivot rod 34 which is parallel to the U-shaped groove and is fixedly mounted upon the body portion of the handle. To provide the pivotal mounting, locking member 33 has extended portions on each side which are bent at right angles to the main portion of the member and provided with holes through which the pivot rod passes. Locking member 33 on its upper extremity has a finger tab 33 which is inclined outwardly and provides a suitable means for controlling rotation of the locking member with respect to the pivot rod. A spring 35,

preferably consisting of a hat piece of leaf spring steel,

has one endrigidly fastened to the back side of tab 33 (as viewed in Figure 1), passes between locking member 33 and pivot rod 34 andhas its other end resting on the back of that side of the rectangular body portion which carries the grooved surface (the lower side as viewed in Figure. 1). Spring 35, therefore, exerts a normal force on tab 33 to retain locking member 33 in its locked position, that is, with the locking pins passing through the corresponding pairs or holes in the walls of the U-shaped groove.

When the handle is to be operated to its unlocked position for the purposes of either attaching it to or detaching it from a panel, finger tab 33 is manually depressed toward hand-grip 32, as illustrated in Figure 3. The resulting rotation of locking member 33 about pivot rod 34 serves to withdraw the locking pins from the holes to an extent such that they no longer occupy any portion of the U-shaped groove. Preferably, the locking pins are not completely withdrawn from the row of holes in the front surface of the U-shaped groove, but are kept partially inserted therein (as shown in Figure 3) so as to insure a proper mesh when the handle is to be restored to its locked position. In order to insure that the locking pins are not completely withdrawn from the holes, tab 33 has two ends 36a, 36b extending in front of the corresponding sides of hand-grip 32. When tab 33a is depressed, these ends or wings come to rest on the corresponding sides of the hand-grip, thus inhibiting further rotation of locking member 33 about the pivot rod.

When the handle is in the locked position, the panel such as panel 23 is fully inserted into the bottom of groove 31. This provides a good control of the movement of the panel and, in fact, the handle when attached acts as if it were an extension of the panel.

Locking member 33 preferably floats on pivot rod 34 so that during insertion of the panel into the tier the full load of the panel is applied against the bottom of groove 31; whereas, during extraction of the panel the full load is applied via pins 33a=33d and via the sides of holes 31a31d to the body portion of handle 30.

Wiring panels 21--25 shown in Figures 1 and 5 carry printed circuit wiring which extends to their upper edges to provide electrical test terminals. This wiring is enveloped by the lower portion of handle 30 when the handle is attached to one of the panels. In order to avoid any disruption of the electrical operation of the circuit, therefore, the lower portion of the handle is made of an electrical insulating material.

While the invention has been described in one particular form it will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that many other forms and modifications may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A detachable handle for an electronic plug-in unit including a thin plate having a perforated outer edge, said handle comprising: a body portion adapted to be gripped by hand and having an elongated, substantially U-shaped groove at one end thereof for engaging said thin plate, each of the opposing walls of said groove having a plurality of holes therein respectively aligned with the corresponding holes in the opposite wall; a locking member hinged to and movably mounted on said body portion and having a plurality of metal locking pins mounted thereon opposite said holes and in a configuration identical to that of said pluralities of holes, said locking member being mounted to occupy either a locked position in which said plurality of metal looking pins extend through the plurality of holes in one wall of said groove, across said groove, and into the plurality of holes in the other wall of said groove, or an unlocked position in which said plurality of metal locking pins are fully withdrawn from said groove; spring means normally retaining said locking member in said locked position; and means operable when said locking member is in said unlocked position and the outer edge of the plate is inserted into said groove for automatically establishing a predetermined position of the handle with respect to the plug-in unit, said lastnamed means including an aligning pin permanently bridging a portion of said groove spaced, between the longitudinal ends of said groove, and between the ends of the legs of the U of the groove and a portion of said groove opposite said leg ends of said groove, with said aligning pin being adapted to mate with a passageway in said unit constructed to receive said aligning pm during insertion of said unit into said handle for de termining the position of said unit relative to said handie.

2. A detachable handle for an electronic plug-in unit including a thin plate having a perforated outer edge, said handle comprising: a body portion adapted to be gripped by hand and having a substantially U-shaped groove at one end thereof for engaging said thin plate, each of the opposing walls of said groove having a plurality of holes therein respectively aligned with the corresponding holes in the opposite wall; a locking member hinged to and movably mounted on said body portion and having a plurality of metal locking pins mounted thereon opposite said holes and in a configuration identical to that of said pluralities of holes, said locking member being mounted to occupy either a locked position in which said plurality of metal locking pins extend through the plurality of holes in one wall of said groove, across said groove, and into the plurality of holes in the other wall of said groove, or an unlocked position in which said plurality of metal locking pins are fully withdrawn from said groove; spring means normally retaining said locking member in said locked position; means limiting the motion of said locking member so that in its unlocked position said plurality of metal locking pins are only partially withdrawn from the plurality of holes in said one Wall of said groove; and means operable when said locking member is in said unlocked position and the outer edge of the plate is inserted into said groove for automatically establishing a predetermined position of the handle with respect to the plug-in unit, said lastnamed means including an aligning pin permanently positioned within a region of said groove remote from the ends thereof and spaced between the open end of said groove, defined by the legs of the U-shaped groove, and the upper extremity of said groove, defined by the groove portion opposite said legs.

3. A detachable handle for an electronic plug-in unit including a thin plate having a perforated outer edge with a centering notch at approximately the longitudinal center of said edge, said handle comprising: a body portion having a substantially U-shaped groove at one end thereof for engaging said thin plate, each of the opposing walls of said groove having a plurality of holes therein respectively aligned with the corresponding holes in the opposite wall; a locking member hinged to and movably mounted on said body portion and having a plurality of locking pins mounted thereon opposite said holes and in a configuration identical to that of said pluralities of holes, said locking member being mounted to occupy either a locked position in which said plurality of locking pins extend through the plurality of holes in one wall of said groove, across said groove, and into the plurality of holes in the other wall of said groove, or an unlocked position in which said plurality of locking pins are fully withdrawn from said groove; spring means normally retaining said locking member in said locked position; and a centering pin positioned transverse to said groove at approximately the longitudinal center thereof, the location of said holes being such that when the perforated outer edge of the plate is inserted into said LJ-shaped groove said locking member is not permitted to return to its locked position until said centering pin engages the centering notch, said pluralities of holes being symmetrically located with respect to said centering pin so that the position of the handle with respect to the plug-in unit is reversible.

4. A detachable handle for an electronic plug-in unit having a substantially flat end portion defined by substantially parallel wall portions, comprising: a handle body portion adapted to be gripped by hand and having a substantially U-shaped groove at one end thereof for engaging said plug-in unit; said groove having a length, in a direction normal to planes containing the U of the groove, substantially equal to that of the unit to be supported thereby, and being defined by a pair of substantially parallel, adjacent, opposing walls spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the dimension of said unit to be supported therebetween, thereby to support said plug-in unit between said opposing walls in a substantially snug fit in planes substantially parallel to said opposing walls and to preserve said unit from wobble with respect to said handle; each of said opposing walls of said groove having a plurality of holes therein respectively aligned with the corresponding holes in the opposite wall; a locking member hinged to and movably mounted on said body portion and having a plurality of locking pins mounted thereon opposite said holes and in a configuration substantially identical to that of said plurality of holes, said locking member being adapted to occupy either a locked position in which said plurality of locking pins extend through the plurality of holes in one wall of said groove, across said groove, and into the plurality of holes in the other wall of said groove, or an unlocked position in which said plurality of locking pins are fully retracted from said groove; spring means normally retaining said locking member in said locked position; and means limiting the motion of said locking member so that in its unlocked position said plurality of locking pins are only partially withdrawn from the plurality of holes in said one wall of said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,160 Orton Dec. 24, 1872 286,757 Worn et a1. Oct. 16, 1883 463,974 Richards Nov. 24, 1891 737,353 Cornelius et al. Aug. 25, 1903 800,641 Goldsmith Oct. 3, 1905 1,837,425 Gastan Dec. 22, 1931 2,106,391 Duraj Jan. 25, 1938 2,228,298 Brotherson Jan. 14, 1941 2,569,170 Hooe Sept. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,712 Great Britain Iune 23, 1910 of 1909 

